Qantas 737-800 Business Class??

[TLCOhio]

Those from "down under" have been very helpful as we plan for our Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Celebrity Solstice cruise, Sydney to Auckland. Booking our flights down and back is coming together with American Airline frequent flyer miles, including a couple of business class flights, Melbourne to Cairns and Auckland to Sydney. These two flights would be on Qantas 737-800 equipment. Not long, long flights, but always like to know more in advance for proper planning, bringing the right/best connecting cords, etc.

 

The SeatGuru website says these business seats have no power, but from the Qantas website, they say: "Business customers will enjoy Qantas' Marc Newson designed seat, furnished in soft luxury leather with a 37" seat pitch and up to 22" width between arms. Seats also feature a 10.6" in-arm inflight entertainment touch-screen, extendable leg rest with fold-out footrest, ergonomic cushions, cocktail table, PC power and a USB port."

 

My questions or clarifications?:

1. How does their power work for which I can plug in with my MacBook Pro? Does it use a cigarette-lighter type of hook-in, AC plug or something else? Type of plug? Assume SeatGuru was not correct in saying there is no power at these seats.

2. How does the USB port work and/or connect? For power and/or connection to an entertainment system?

3. How are the Qantas First Lounges at Sydney and Melbourne international airports? The website says those have been recent re-done by Qantas Creative Director Marc Newson. I assume if you are on business class ticket you will have access there without added cost, right?

 

Any other tips, info, suggestion and/or insights on Qantas business class in these types of planes? It looks like we'll only have two flights in business class with Qantas or their related companies. Our other two area flights for our overall schedule, Cairns to Adelaide and Adelaide to Sydney, will be without AA points and will be just in regular coach. Assume no power ports with those seats on this type of plane, right?

 

THANKS for the help! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 119,944 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[Aussieflyer]

Your international flight should use one if the refurbished 737 planes and it will indeed have the amenities described. For domestic flights it is very much luck of the draw what you get. Some have been refurb end but most do not have power or individual screens. We have had both old and new, seems to be no rhyme or reason, just what was available.

[Oz_Steve]

For business class you get access to the business lounge unless you are the One World equivalent of Platinum Status (Emerald). Melbourne to Cairns is a domestic flight. If you are One World equivalent of Qantas Gold status (Sapphire) you should have access to the Qantas Club lounge on your economy flights. Use your AA FF number for your Qantas bookings and the status should come up on the ticket so no need to show your one world/AA card.

 

http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/privileges?alt_cam=au:ff:WelcomeMicrosite:200906:Australia:ExtraBenefits:WOWlaunch:ExtraBenefits:TextLink

[HPSOV]

As the others have said it is a bit 'luck of the draw' as to what configuration your aircraft will be. The Tasman sector should be a reconfigured one which will feature personal entertainment screens and in-seat power in both business and economy. The domestic sectors will likely be the older config without personal screens or power, but you may get lucky and get a reconfigured aircraft.

The in-seat power I have seen (which hasn't been on the 737's) has been a universal style plug, so no adapter should be required. No idea what the USB port is for (unless its just to plug in an iPhone USB cable for charging?).

The 'First' lounges are for First Class only, only your business class sector you will get access to the 'Business' lounge.

All in all Business class on the 737's isn't anything to get too excited about, but it is more comfortable than economy!

[TLCOhio]

Your international flight should use one if the refurbished 737 planes and it will indeed have the amenities described. For domestic flights it is very much luck of the draw what you get. Some have been refurb end but most do not have power or individual screens. We have had both old and new, seems to be no rhyme or reason, just what was available.

 

Oz_Steve: For business class you get access to the business lounge unless you are the One World equivalent of Platinum Status (Emerald). Melbourne to Cairns is a domestic flight. If you are One World equivalent of Qantas Gold status (Sapphire) you should have access to the Qantas Club lounge on your economy flights. Use your AA FF number for your Qantas bookings and the status should come up on the ticket so no need to show your one world/AA card.

 

HPSOV: As the others have said it is a bit 'luck of the draw' as to what configuration your aircraft will be. The Tasman sector should be a reconfigured one which will feature personal entertainment screens and in-seat power in both business and economy. The domestic sectors will likely be the older config without personal screens or power' date=' but you may get lucky and get a reconfigured aircraft. The in-seat power I have seen (which hasn't been on the 737's) has been a universal style plug, so no adapter should be required. No idea what the USB port is for (unless its just to plug in an iPhone USB cable for charging?). The 'First' lounges are for First Class only, only your business class sector you will get access to the 'Business' lounge. [b']All in all Business class on the 737's isn't anything to get too excited about, but it is more comfortable than economy![/b]

 

Super appreciate this added information from our Aussie experts. Very helpful. Sounds like it will be a little bit of a "roll of the dice" as to which exact plane we will get. Maybe we'll be lucky. Maybe not. The good news is that we are being able to fly on Frequent Flyer points from American Airlines. That "pricing" is also good. Keep it coming with any other comments, details, tips, etc. It's fun researching and learning about about Australia and NZ with ALL of their great options.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 120,089 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474